Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda, the Deputy Executive Director of UN Women, has warned that Afghanistan is facing "the most severe women's rights crisis in the world." She made these remarks on Monday, October 26, during a meeting on women, peace, and security at the UN headquarters in New York.
Expressing deep concern over the situation of women and girls in Afghanistan, Ms. Gumbonzvanda said, "In Afghanistan, girls are deprived of an education that could transform their lives." She emphasized the vital role of women in peace processes and the necessity of their participation in negotiations.
The UN official added that wars have become "more deadly" for women and girls than ever before. According to her, over 37,000 civilians were killed in armed conflicts last year, a quarter of whom were women and girls. She warned that the world must not remain indifferent to this suffering.
According to the statistics presented, more than 750 million women and girls live within 50 kilometers of active conflict zones, and at least 25 women and girls are killed daily. Ms. Gumbonzvanda also highlighted the impact of war on health services, citing the situation in Gaza where the destruction of hospitals led to a 41% decrease in live births and a 300% increase in miscarriages.
She also expressed concern about the rise in conflict-related sexual violence, stating that the UN had verified 9,788 cases of such violence in 2025. In the same year, she noted, women constituted only five percent of negotiators in 57 peace processes.
In Afghanistan, following the return of the Taliban government, women and girls have been stripped of their basic rights, including the right to education, work, and participation in public life. Widespread restrictions have marginalized them from social, economic, and political spheres.
Source: United Nations
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